The menu collection at the Los Angeles Public Library is, to my mind, one of its greatest assets. It was recently announced that a local man's voluminous personal collection of menus and programs from years past is being donated to the library -- I know that I am joined by my fellow food nerds in excitement about this.

And in celebration, I picked out a few of my favorite menus from the current collection. These bits of ephemera from the Cocoanut Grove, Taix, the Brown Derby, Spago and Yamashiro have fun cover art, and they're great insight into the food culture of the past. The Yamashiro menu is especially strange to today's eyes: the original line-up of dishes had almost nothing to do with the decor.

Want recipes and food news emailed directly to you? Sign up for the new Food newsletter here!

About the Author

Katherine's role as the Living editor at KCET.org keeps her running from farms to markets to restaurants to pop-up swaps all over SoCal. She's been living in and writing about this area for over a decade.
MORE

KCET is the nation's largest independent public television station. On air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. We offer a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world.

Press Room

Are you a member of the media looking for information about KCET? Visit our press room for contact details, images and all the latest news.